Discover interesting facts and information about the history and culture of Native American Indians and their tribes

Meaning of the Square Symbol

Native American Indians were a deeply spiritual people and they communicated their history, thoughts, ideas and dreams from generation to generation through Symbols and Signs such as the Square symbol. Native American symbols are geometric portrayals, celestial bodies, natural phenomena and animal designs. The square is used as a basis for many symbols, patterns and designs. The simple shape of the square sign was easy to depict on any raw materials such as rock, stone, wood, shell and animal hides.

The Square Symbol - Meaning of the Magic FourThe meaning of the Square symbol has many similarities to the meaning of the Circle Symbol and the Meaning of Cross in a Circle symbol which symbolize the sacred and spiritual, including the "sacred" earth. The reason for this is simple - a square is much easier to draw than the curved lines of the circle. Like the quartered circle which is the basis of the Native American Medicine Wheel, the square symbol has a four-sided structure.

The four-sided symbols point to the four compass directions of north, east, south and west, the four sections can indicate the four great primary forces, or the Sacred Four, emanating from the Creator and representing the individual elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth. There are other magical symbols and signs which can be connected to four-sided symbols such as the four seasons of winter, spring, summer and fall, the four ages of man that symbolize birth, growth, maturity and death. The use of the four sided square symbol is sometimes extended to include the four cosmic elements of the sun, moon, planets and stars.

The Square SymbolThe Iroquois Confederacy Wampum belt contains a square symbol for each of the original five tribes in their geographic order. The first square symbol represents Seneca tribe (Keepers of the Western Door), the centre arrowhead symbol represents the Onondaga tribe, the next symbol the Oneida tribe and the end square symbol the Mohawk tribe (keepers of the eastern door). Each of the square symbols is linked by a line running between them which symbolised peace in the Confederacy.

Picture of the Hiawatha Wampum Belt of the Iroquois Confederacy

The Square Symbol - MeaningThe meaning of the Square symbol was used in conjunction with the enclosure sign to signify that an area had been set aside for a special event - a ceremonial dance or ritual. This is illustrated in the Birch bark painting below. Native American Indians recorded their historic events through storytelling and symbolic drawings.

Picture of a Plains Ojibwe Chippewa

Ojibwa Birch-bark Ceremonial Dance - 1875

The Square Symbol - MeaningThere were so many tribes of Native American Indians it is only possible to generalise the most common meaning of the Square symbol or pattern. Native Indian symbols are still used as Tattoos and were used for a variety of reasons and depicted on numerous objects such as tepees, totem poles, musical instruments, clothes and War Paint. Indian Tribes also used their own Colors for Symbols and designs depending on the natural resources available to make Native American paint.

Cross symbol on buckskin bag

Native American Indians - Square SymbolNative American Indians had a highly complex culture, especially those who lived on the Great Plains.

Their religion was dominated by rituals and belief in a spiritual connection with nature and these beliefs were reflected in the various symbols they used such as the Square symbol.

The clothes, tepees and all of his belongings was decorated with art and included symbols depicting his achievements, acts of heroism, his various spirit guides or the most important events in his life. Every symbol used by an American Native Indian had meaning which can be accessed from Symbols and Meanings.

The Square Symbol

Square

The Square symbol of Native Americans

Meaning, symbolism and interpretation of the Square symbol

Interesting facts and info for kids and schools

Pictures, meanings, patterns and designs of symbols

Native American Square symbol meaning

Pictures and Videos of Native AmericansSquare. Discover the vast selection of pictures which relate to the History of Native Americans and illustrate many symbols used by American Indians. The pictures show the clothing, war paint, weapons and decorations of various Native Indian tribes that can be used as a really useful educational history resource for kids and children of all ages. We have included pictures and videos to accompany the main topic of this section - Square. The videos enable fast access to the images, paintings and pictures together with information and many historical facts. All of the articles and pages can be accessed via the Native Indian Tribes Index - a great educational resource for kids.